A Word on Colombian coffee from Tolima, Colombia

Nestled in southwestern Colombia is the department of Tolima, a region rich with a variety of mountain ranges, rivers, and valleys. In South of Tolima, there is the fertile and complex soil of volcanic origin. This region produces some of the finest coffee in all of Colombia, and the Cup of Excellence has often been awarded to local coffee farmers. By and large the region has been unable to develop a strategy to bring its coffee to the rest of the world. Therefore, many of those who love specialty Colombian coffee have missed out on what this region has to offer.

In 1965, the Cooperativa de Caficultores del Sur del Tolima, CAFISUR, was created. Cafisur is located in the department of Tolima, in the central part of the Columbian Andes. The Cooperative includes over 20,000 farmers from the region, and 80,000 hectares in coffee crops and has produced an estimated 450,000 bags of coffee.

Cafisur is also invested in the education of coffee growing for Tolima's future economy. An example initiative, "Schools and Coffee," worked with 8th and 9th-grade children of farmers to train them on everything related to coffee production including technology, marketing, and financing.

The Cooperative's Colombian coffee is exceptionally high quality. The altitude of 1.65 meters and the volcanic soil creates a uniqueness that not many coffees attain. Varietals include 50% Caturra, 30% Castillo, and 20% Columbian.

The Cafisur Cooperative exports its coffee around the world, but most importantly to Minturn, Colorado, just outside of Vail, where we at Vail Mountain Coffee & Tea can bring it to you.